Museum officials released pictures of the design process on Wednesday and said Mrs Obama's depiction will be unveiled in March. Designers will have spent six months on the figure, studying photographs and video footage of the first lady.

Janine DiGioacchino, general manager of the London-based attraction's Washington branch, said having an image of Mrs Obama is an honour, because "as our nation's first African-American first lady, a proud working mom and budding style icon, Mrs Obama is a role model to women around the corner and around the globe."

The figure was designed at Merlin Studios in London and will be placed alongside President Barack Obama's figure in the museum's Oval Office replica.